Learning to Let Go

She stood in front of me. Hands clenched in tight fists at her side. Tears streaming down her face. Murmuring her pain. Frustration, pain, sadness, flowed out of her.

I knelt down to her level. Placing my hands on her fists. “It will be okay.” I quietly spoke to her. Explaining the best I could how if we let the tiny bird go it would be best for him.

” But…h.h.heee..just ssssttttarteddd to fly. “

“I know love. His flying is why we need to let him go. He will not thrive cooped up in a cage for the rest of his life. He needs to be free. “

She wiped at her face a little. Taking in giant, ragged breaths. She blinked a few times. Looking at the cage were the goldfinch sat patiently waiting for his release. Her blond hair blowing and sticking to her wet face was pushed away as her body came back to calm.

“You’re right. He needs to move on. We need to let him go. I am going to miss him.”

” as will I. “

She moved slowly toward the cage. Opened the door. Quietly, saying goodbye as she stepped away from the cage.

He eagerly leapt forward and took flight. Pausing briefly on a branch to look back at the girl. A quiet chirp, and off he flew. Free again to fly.